The black fur of the beast melted into the brush as the sun began to set and dark shadows overtook the forest. His eyes, gleaming in the lacking light, were still far sharper than any man's. The wolf was surprisingly silent for his size. The speed he traveled at was a brisk walk. He'd already circled the city once since that morning, and he'd keep doing it until he picked up his mistress's scent. 

Luckily, that didn't take too terribly long. The wolf came upon a drainage tunnel, and the smell of his mistress lingered. He perked up, his tail giving a wag of excitement. She was alive! And it smell as though she had company. The wolf's demeanor darkened quickly, however, when he followed the trail a bit further into the woods and found the scene of a scuffle. Three dead guards laid on the ground, and one smelled more heavily of the princess than the rest. The scent of blood lingered in the air. She had been injured. 

Kolgrin quickened his pace as he followed the trail, his nose pressed to the ground. He couldn't tell if the other scents were traveling companions or enemies trailing her. One in particular smelled familiar; perhaps a guard of the castle. 

It didn't take the wolf long to come to the end of the trail. He slowed, quieting his steps as he came upon a campsite. The smell of smoke and the glow of fire drew him near. But his mistress was absent. Then, the faint scent of burning flesh and hair crossed his keen nose. Kolgrin turned to follow it, and he was very glad that he did. 

He caught a glimpse of his mistress's face in the darkness of the forest. For a moment, his heart jumped. He wanted to run up to her like a happy pup, tail wagging and begging for pets. However, the twisted look of pain on her face made his blood boil instead. A man stood behind her, hand clapped over her mouth. His sharp eyes picked up a glint of silver at her side; a knife. His ears pinned back and his lips receded over his dagger-like fangs. A loud snarl tore from his throat as he barreled from the underbrush, fury in his shining eyes. He would end this man's life for harming his mistress!